Editor's Note: Please do not send me waves of angry fan girl (or boy) mail concerning this subject, I beg you.

Where to begin? Well, I must say that I grew up believing the Zelda series was a one woman show. Link was out solely to save Princess Zelda in all of the games. In Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, the couple even had some "alone time" behind a curtain at the end of the game. I think for most early fans who grew up in the 80s, Link and Zelda was a given. There was no other option. Even in A Link to the Past, with the other maidens besides Zelda, most fans didn't think much of it.

Perhaps a mini-game involving Link and Valentine's Day cards is in order?

There's a lot of evidence of this as well. The Valiant and DIC creative forces both took it as Link and Zelda were romantically involved (or at least Link wanted Zelda). The Nintendo Power/Fun Club issues also touched on the subject a few times, and it seemed the staff was under the impression Link had a thing for Zelda. There are no in-game references, besides the end of Zelda II, to substantiate any claim that Link and Zelda had feelings for each other. Even the ending of Zelda II could be passed off as a mere "kiss for the hero" routine, nothing serious or life-changing.

Then we get into the fourth Zelda game, Link's Awakening. This is where fans began to have a field day. A red-headed girl named Marin, not Zelda, was the focus of Link's attention in the game. In the game, Marin takes care of Link, aids him in his quest, and there's even a segment where they have an intimate conversation on the beach, and the game prompts that it may be your "big chance". A lot of subtext is present, yes. But for some reason, fans began to propose a theory that Link ends up with Marin.

Honestly, this wasn't a big deal. Zelda isn't in Link's Awakening. Yet, some fans were offended because Link and Zelda were so "linked" in A Link to the Past, which appeared to be the prequel to Link's Awakening. The Nintendo Power comic, which is actually a Japanese manga, also depicted Link and Zelda as intimate. So, Zelda fans naturally defended their princess. What I always took away from Link's Awakening was this - Link genuinely felt something for Marin, but the problem was Link thought Marin was Zelda. My interpretation was that Marin was simply Link's "dream" form of Princess Zelda. So in my book, Link was getting Zelda, on way or the other.

Still, Link's Awakening probably was more retrospective in terms of creating this "relationship" debate. The first game to really create the modern issue, and thus causing fans to go back and re-evaluate Link's Awakening, was Ocarina of Time. The reason was because in this game, Zelda was present, as well as other female "interests". I've heard enough theories and arguments as to who should end up with whom to make me sick. It's like listening in on high school fan girls argue about match-making in real life.

Nabooru is also another easy scrub. I don't even want to get into the pedophilic tendencies implied by the English version's dialogue between Link and her regarding the "promise" she made, let alone the Japanese version's more forward implications, but Nabooru was a full grown adult and Link was a child. Even as an adult, I'm sure Link wasn't really into her. I know, I know - Nabooru cried out for Link to leave during the end of the Young Link Spirit Temple cut scene, and she did think Link turned out to be handsome, but it seems the only thing that really ever materialized from this option was Nabooru's "promise", which should be locked away in a taboo box.

Impa is also another choice I don't even want to think about. I've written extensive analysis papers for a Feminist Studies class (oh god, the horror being in such a class a male) on the subject of Impa and her depiction as "butch" and possibly a lesbian caretaker (something I find risqué for this era of Nintendo under Yamauchi). Quite honestly, Impa viewed Link as a young hero needing help, and asked him to protect Zelda on her behalf near the end by asking him to "go to her side". Romantic chances here are zilch.

This leaves us with the crop of characters most relationship debates come down to. Saria, Princess Zelda and Malon. Yes, I know many of you are whining about Princess Ruto, but I seriously think Link had no interest in her whatsoever, and as I said, Ruto actually helped make a case for Link's feelings for Zelda with her remarks in the Chamber of Sages. Anyway, onto the comparison of these three women.

I've heard a lot of arguments for why Saria and Link should end up. The cut scene of Saria giving Link his Ocarina. The cut scene in the Chamber of Sages. The cut scene when Saria teaches Link her song, and when Link returns there as an adult and seems to reflect upon her near the tree stub she played on. People also argue Saria is the "friend" Link went to find in Majora's Mask. All of these are valid instances of Link and Saria perhaps "caring" for each other, but I was never convinced it was anything other than friendship.

For starters, let's clear this rumor. Link was looking for Navi in Majora's Mask, not Saria. Don't even try to debate it - I'll nicely direct you to the Collector's Edition manuals and player's guides in both the United States and Japan which state this, plus I've got mountains of facts that simply add up to the fact it was Navi, without the help of Nintendo's re-releases. Next is the claim Saria makes as a Sage. She says that "Saria will always be Link's friend". The meaning, to me, was that Saria would always watch out for Link and be there for him. I took the whole relationship as a mother/child thing. Saria was protective of Link, always watching out for him. Link simply cared for her, and worried about her - Navi wanted to go see what happened to her as soon as they returned back to Hyrule post-seven-year slumber. Yet, I never found it romantic. I don't have much "proof" that Saria is ruled out, I just interpreted the facts supporters give in a much different way. And my way spells out no romantic relationship.

For me, it's always been about Malon versus Zelda. I will admit my girlfriend has played a big role in converting me over from the Malon side; I used to fantasize about her in my early college years. Yet, it was more of me and a thing for red heads, not necessarily what I thought about the relationship status of her and Link (I don't think I'm Link). I've always found Malon to be more into Link than Link was into her. I know people point out how she cared for Epona, and how she taught Link the song and how to tame Epona, and how she supposedly dreamed of a knight sweeping her off her feet.

Yet, in all honesty, I always took Malon's role to be one of a supportive caretaker of Epona. I think she does feel attracted to Link, but I also think the game depicts her relationship with Epona more than it does with Link. In all subsequent games, Link does not show a valid interest in the "Malon" character. She's appeared in some form in Majora's Mask, Oracles, Four Swords Adventures, and most recently, The Minish Cap. In both FSA and TMC, it's obvious Link is "interested" in Zelda more than Malon - Malon is reduced to a basic NPC with only generic characterization.

I think most Malon supporters subconsciously connect Malon with Marin, and thus become very defensive about Malon's status in a relationship with Link. I've even heard people talk about Link and Malon marrying in Ocarina of Time's ending, and their descendant lives on in The Wind Waker, or in Twilight Princess. Honestly, I think it is a very desperate attempt at convinving themselves that Malon and Link end up together, and I feel most of the passion from these supporters is substantiated through doujinshi and manga, and the works of fan fiction.

So we're back to Princess Zelda. Again, remember this is my entire take on this issue; I'm not trying to prove Link ends up with one girl or another. People have argued against my claim that Sheik and Tetra are "Zelda's persona" - that in Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker, Zelda has in-depth interaction with Link and shows affection on a deeper level than other characters. But honestly, I saw romantic tendencies in Ocarina of Time between Link and Zelda at several junctures, without Sheik's presence.

The ending of Ocarina of Time, as well as the sequence in the Temple of Time near the end, really hit a chord with me. It seemed like intimate moments between the two. What put the nail in the coffin for me was when Link ran back to Princess Zelda at the end of the game. I know timeline theorists are now rushing to their Outlook or Webmail clients to bombard me with Ocarina of Time ending theories that are contrary to my own. Folks, we don't know what happened, and I've found enough evidence myself to convince myself the ending of Ocarina of Time has Link return at the exact moment, or sometime after the moment, Link drew the Master Sword originally - fully intact with the memory of the future - and rushes to Princess Zelda to see if she is okay.

Take that whichever way you want. But there is more than Ocarina of Time. I will concede I did not find much romance in The Wind Waker. However, in Four Swords Adventures and The Minish Cap, I felt Nintendo was being blatantly obvious with Link and Zelda's "feelings". I also think, despite what others say, that Aonuma actively considers making Link and Zelda romantically involved. I just hope Twilight Princess doesn't cause Malon fans to commit suicide. No, I don't have solid proof, and I can't reveal anything. But let's say I have a strong hunch Twilight Princess will focus a bit on Link's feelings for a certain Princess. I think Aonuma agrees with me.

So, in the end, what I believed from day one of my Zelda fandom is what I believe now - Link and Zelda were meant to be together. But don't listen to me! Make up your own minds, it's all up to personal interpretation until Nintendo makes it official. Still, I feel very strongly now that I've gone through this awkward subject that Link was meant to be with Zelda.

Honestly, what would you really expect from a series that features Link saving her nearly every time? Contrary to Comedy Central's "Drawn Together", I don't think Link has sexual identity issues. I think Nintendo's just waiting for Link to grow up so he can reveal his true feelings.

- Mike "TSA" Damiani is the Senior Editor and Owner of The Hylia

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